Coalition’s reef advocate backs massive tree-clearing plan

Coalition MP Warren Entsch has backed a plan to bulldoze 2000 hectares of pristine forest near the Great Barrier Reef despite being appointed to a role championing the natural marine wonder.

Mr Entsch says he can balance the interests of his constituents on reef issues.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison appointed the veteran Liberal MP, who represents the seat of Leichhardt in north Queensland, as special envoy to the Great Barrier Reef in last month’s ministerial reshuffle.

Mr Entsch once owned Olive Vale station, a large Cape York farm north-west of Cairns, and has been a vocal proponent of land clearing on farming properties in north Queensland. Land clearing can create sediment and nutrient run-off and is the main driver of serious water quality problems on the Great Barrier Reef.

Read the story from The Age by Nicole Hasham - “Coalition’s reef advocate backs massive tree-clearing plan.”

EU votes for outdoor ban on common insecticide over danger to bees

European Union countries have backed a proposal to ban all use outdoors of insecticides known as neonicotinoids that studies have shown can harm bees.

The move follows a number of studies linking the use
 of the insecticides to population declines in bees.

The ban, championed by environmental activists, covers the use of three active substances — imidacloprid developed by Bayer CropScience, clothianidin developed by Takeda Chemical Industries and Bayer CropScience as well as Syngenta's thiamethoxam.

Read Laura Webster’s story from ABC News - “EU votes for outdoor ban on common insecticide over danger to bees.”

Environment ministers endorse plan to make all packaging recyclable by 2025

Australia's environment ministers have backed a plan for all packaging to be "recyclable, compostable or reusable" within eight years as part of an effort to fix the nation's waste crisis.

State and territory environment ministers meeting on Friday.

The target was among a series of measures endorsed in a Friday meeting focused on boosting recycling in Australia after China recently decided to restrict imports of foreign waste.

The plan to transform packaging by 2025 or earlier is a "monumental call to action," said Brooke Donnelly, chief executive of industry body the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, which will lead the effort.

Read the story by Fergus Hunter from The Age - “Environment ministers endorse plan to make all packaging recyclable by 2025.”